• Sept. 19: Craig Ferguson, host of CBS's "The Late Late Show," takes to the road with his stand-up comedy in this critically acclaimed show. 8 p.m., $10-$45; group discounts available.

• Oct. 16: Pablo Francisco brings more comedy to the Classic Center. Francisco's appeared on "Mad TV" and Comedy Central's "Mind of Mencia" and "The Showbiz Show with David Spade" and he's a YouTube hit. 9 p.m., $20-$35; group discounts available.

• Oct. 21: The Ant and the Elephant is part of the Classic Center's Children's Series. This musical, adapted from the classic Bill Peet story, is from the creative team of "The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley." The family musical about the power of one good deed tells the story of how the helpful elephant gets some unexpected assistance from the smallest of creatures. Two shows, 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., $6.

• Nov. 8: The Athens Symphony Winter Concert will feature William Davis, bassoon soloist, performing Mozart's Concerto for Bassoon, K. 191, in Bb major. The program also will include Symphony No. 8, Op. 88, in G major by Antonin Dvorak and Edvard Grieg's Symphonic Dances, Op. 64, Movement IV. Tickets are free but should be picked up at the Classic Center box office beginning Oct. 28; www.athenssymphony.org for more information.

• Nov. 13: "The Pajama Game" was a smash hit on Broadway when it opened in 1954. Bright, funny and fast-paced, the 2006 Broadway revival earned a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. The score includes popular hits and musical theater standards. 7:30 p.m., $10-$65; group discounts available.

• Nov. 22: The Four Tops and The Marvelettes are part of the Classic Center's "Take Me Back" series. Known for hits like "Baby, I Need Your Lovin," "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" and "Reach Out, I'll Be There," The Four Tops are still spinning their soul. The Marvelettes were spotted at a high school talent show in their Michigan hometown and signed by Berry Gordy, head of the fledgling Motown organization. The group's first hit was "Please, Mr. Postman" in 1961 - before the Temptations or the Supremes had hit the charts. $29-$59; group discounts available.

University of Georgia Performing Arts Center, 230 River Road; www.uga.edu/pac or (706) 542-4400.

• Sept. 21: The Georgia Guitar Quartet kicks off the Performing Arts Center's 2008-09 season, bringing the four University of Georgia graduates back to their old stomping grounds. The quartet, now touring across the country, will debut several new pieces for the performance. 3 p.m., $19-$24.

• Oct. 12: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Robert Spano, presents a full afternoon of the lush, melodic music of Tchaikovsky. Georgia's own Robert McDuffie is soloist in the Violin Concerto. The program also includes the expressive Francesca da Rimini and the Manfred Symphony. 3 p.m., $37-$42.

• Oct. 21: The Vienna Choir Boys have been performing for a mere 509 years, annually visiting virtually all the European countries and frequenting Asia, Australia and the Americas. 7:30 p.m., $27-$32.

• Oct. 24: The Song and Dance Ensemble of West Africa bring together the rich musical and dance traditions of Togo, Senegal, Guinea, Ghana, Benin, the Ivory Coast and Mauritania to form this unique ensemble. Singers, dancers and musicians perform on traditional instruments bringing to the stage the folklore and mythology of these diverse cultures. 8 p.m., $17, $22.

• Nov. 14: Ballet Flamenco José Porcel will return to the PAC this fall, by popular demand. With the choreography of the renowned Porcel, this colorful company offers flamenco and classical Spanish dance. 8 p.m., $24-$29.

• Nov. 16: "The Pirates of Penzance" performed by the Gilbert & Sullivan Players brings to the stage one of Sullivan's greatest scores including "For He Is A Major-General," "Come Friends Who Plow The Sea," "Poor Wandering One, Pirate King Song" and more. 7:30 p.m., $27-$32.

• "Museum," a fast-paced send-up of contemporary art culture deftly interweaves the stories and foibles of over two dozen art patrons and artists. This follows the department's production of "Art" and features installations by Athens and UGA artists. 8 p.m. Sept. 25-26, 30, Oct. 1-4; 2:30 p.m. Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 in the Cellar Theatre.

• "Pillowman" examines the justifications and repercussions of torture with a script that's been called "the blackest dark comedy ever written." 8 p.m. Oct. 14-17, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Cellar Theatre.

• "Moon Over Buffalo" is the uproarious farce by the author of "Lend Me a Tenor," that brought Carol Burnett back to Broadway. It's billed as "the perfect escapist evening for anyone who loves theater. Or hates it. Or just doesn't get it." 8 p.m. Oct. 3-4, 9-11; 2 p.m. Oct. 5 and 12; $18 general, $15 students and seniors (Thursday is half-price).

• Wednesday: The Whigs take a breath from their seemingly constant touring to stomp on home turf for an evening. They'll be joined by Tokyo Police Club and The Coast. Doors open at 9 p.m., $15 advance, tickets at SchoolKids Records, (706) 353-1666.

• Sept. 12: Motion City Soundtrack, fresh out of Minneapolis, brings its sweet pop tunes to town with Margot & The Nuclear So and So's, Dear and The Headlights and I Was Totally Destroying It. Doors open at 7 p.m., $13 advance; tickets at SchoolKids Records, (706) 353-1666.

• Sept. 19: Dead Confederate, recently named by Rolling Stone magazine as one of six bands to watch in 2008, will celebrate the release of a new CD. Kuroma, Twin Tigers and Gift Horse support. Doors open at 9 p.m., free for ages 21 and up, $2 for ages 18-21.

• Oct. 31: Deerhoof, the San Francisco band touring in support of its soon-to-be released, 13th album, "Offend Maggie," stops by the club with Flying, Experimental Dental School. $10 advance, tickets at SchoolKids Records, (706) 353-1666.

Georgia Theatre, 215 N. Lumpkin St.;

• Sept. 12: Don Chambers & Goat - they of the Athens scene - celebrate the release of a new CD, "Zebulon" before hitting the road with the Drive-By Truckers. Support is the lovely Liz Durrett and The Arcs. Doors open at 9 p.m.

• Oct. 1: Dallas band Old 97s are touring atop their critically lauded new CD "Blame It On Gravity." Frontman Rhett Miller was just featured on NPR's "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross. Doors open at 8 p.m., $16 advance, $18 day of show.

• Oct. 2-3: The Avett Brothers are playing a two-night show in the Classic City, their largeness can't be contained to just one. Justin Gordon supports on night one, Jessica Lea Mayfield opens on night two. Doors open at 8 p.m.; $40 for two-night pass or $25 each night.

• Oct. 9-10: Luke Bryan, more than just a pretty face, last year landed on Billboard magazine's "New Faces to Watch" list. He's also more than a one-night guy, pulling two nights at the theater as well. Doors open at 8 p.m. both evenings and tickets are $20 per night.

• Oct. 18: Flow TV presents HIP-HOP LIVE! 2008 featuring Talib Kweli with David Banner and B.o.B. As if that weren't enough of a bill to get you out for the evening, all artists will be backed by the 10-piece Rhythm Roots All-Stars. Doors open at 9 p.m., $30.

• Sept. 19: Gabriel Kelley celebrates the release of his new CD "Light at The Bottom." Special guest Keegan Dewitt opens. 8:30 p.m., $6 advance, $8 day of show.

• Oct. 9: Patterson Hood brings his solo works as the frontman of one of Athens' more famous exports, the Drive-By Truckers. 9 p.m., $12 advance, $15 day of show.

• Oct. 16: Rodney Crowell is joined by special guest Jenny Scheinman for this alt-country show. 8 p.m., $22.50 advance, $25 day of show.

Hanging on the walls

ATHICA: Athens Institute for Contemporary Art: "Overload," Sept. 13-Nov. 2. It's a word we're all-too familiar with, as we try to cram as much as we can into the daily grind. The exhibit "addresses the quality and quantity as well as the speed and volume of information, its absorption (or lack thereof)." There are 16 artists or artist teams exhibiting, with works in media ranging from painting to sculpture, video, installation and more. Opening reception is 7-9 p.m. Sept. 13. www.athica.org or (706) 208-1613.

Georgia Museum of Art: "The Ring Shows: Then & Now and Putting the Band Back Together" is up through Nov. 2, and features a bevy of rings made by artists around the country. Also on display is "Everett Gee Jackson/ San Diego Modern, 1920-1955," through Oct. 26, and "From the Collection: The Authority of the Mexican Muralists" through Sept. 28. As part of the UGA Arts Festival to celebrate the opening of the new Lamar Dodd School of Art building, there'll be a number of activities at the museum, including curator-led tours of the exhibits on Thursday and a staged reading from the UGA Department of Theatre and Film Studies of "Art" by Yasmina Reza on Thursday and Sunday. For a complete list of UGA Arts Festival events, go to www.uga.edu/artsfestival and for more on the museum, go to www.uga.edu/gamuseum.

Lyndon House Arts Center, 293 Hoyt St., (706) 613-3623.

"Full House" features works by people who make use of this friendly community arts center - members of the Athens Art Association, Athens Fibercraft Guild, Cotton Patch Quilters, Lyndon House Arts Foundation, Visual Arts Guild of Athens, Athens Area Arts Council, Athens Area Porcelain Artists, Casa de la Cultura, Athens Photography Guild, Lace Group, Classic City Woodturners, Printmakers Cooperative, Ladies Garden Club and Teen Cartoon Illustrators Club. It's on display through Nov. 8.